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Scattered news and notes from the Mets after covering their annual Christmas party for local schoolchildren today at Citi Field:

* The Mets are closing in on a two-year deal with Japanese bullpen import Ryota Igarashi, although media in his native country reported the Red Sox are trying to top Omar Minaya’s offer. A 30-year-old right hander, Iragashi was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA for the Yakult Swallows last year and would be a strong candidate to be the Mets’ set-up man.

* Jeff Francoeur, who played the role of Santa Claus, revealed that he had so little tendon left in his right thumb during surgery this offseason that doctors had to transplant tendon from his forearm to fully repair the damage. Francoeur, though, said he expects to be fully recovered by the start of spring training.

* The Mets plan to monitor former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang’s recovery from shoulder surgery this winter and wouldn’t rule out an eventual offer if they are convinced he is healthy, according to a high-ranking team source.

* GM Omar Minaya said the Mets remain open to bringing back slugger Carlos Delgado on a one-year contract if Delgado proves he is healthy while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. Minaya plans to fly to Puerto Rico to watch Delgado later this month.

* The Mets were among the teams that scouted hard-throwing Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman’s impressive workout in Houston yesterday, but the Amazin’s don’t expect to land him if he continues to seek as much as $50 million to sign.

* Jon Niese said he is on schedule with his recovery from hamstring tendon surgery and expects to be full speed by the start of spring training.